Page 163 of The Persistence of Thornes
“Why are you two—” I gasp. “Wait, did you place bets on this?”
Casen laughs as he shoves the money into his pocket. “Sis, we saw the writing on the wall from the get-go. I had a feeling you two would be standing at an altar before the year was over. This one”—he tosses a thumb at Quinn—“thought you’d hold out a bit longer.”
I blink at them, mouth still open, flabbergasted. “I honestly can’t believe either of you right now,” I mutter.
Quinn shrugs, resting his elbows on the dining room table. “It was obvious from the day Caleb helped us move in that he was interested in you. And you tried to hide it, but we could tell you liked him too, and if you haven’t noticed, Halle, you don’t like very many people.”
“That’swhat led you to thinking we’d get marriednow?”
“Well”—Casen scratches his chin—“you are, so it’s not like I was wrong. Why are you mad?”
“I’m not mad.” I cross my arms. “I’m offended. There’s a difference.”
“Offended that I was right?” Casen gives me a confused frown.
Head dropped back, I groan. I should know by now that there’s no reasoning with my brothers. “I just can’t believe you guys thought we’d end up married that fast.”
“Again, you are,” Casen reiterates.
I swallow past the lump in my throat and inhale a deep breath. I’m glad now that Caleb agreed to let me talk tothem on my own while he tells Seda. He’d never let me live this down.
Focus fixed on the table in front of me, I clear my throat. “Do you think I’m making a bad decision?”
“No,” they answer in that synchronized tone that always jars me.
I snap my head up, my breath catching. “Why?”
“Because,” Quinn answers, “Caleb looks at you like you’re the only thing he needs in the world.”
“Like he’d jump in front of a bullet for you,” Casen adds.
“It’s really soon, though, isn’t it?” I press them.
They look at each other and break into identical shrugs.
Casen clears his throat. “When it’s the right person, why wait? Do you have any doubts about him? Do you think there’s someone else out there who’s better for you?”
My stomach twists at the thought. “No.”
“Then marry the guy.” Quinn breaks into a smile.
“You guys are really okay with this?” I push. “You don’t care if I put the house on the market after it’s fixed and we make this move permanent?”
They make eye contact, communicating in their secret twin way.
Quinn is the one to answer. “We don’t care. If you haven’t noticed, this place is a lot nicer.”
“Fast Wi-Fi,” Casen adds.
Quinn snaps his fingers. “Thicker walls.”
“Oh, yeah. That’s going to be important,” Casen muses.
I roll my eyes, my cheeks heating. “Oh my God.”
“What?” They blink at me innocently.
“You guys are truly okay with this?” I’m not fishing for an excuse to back out. I’m just shocked they’re so chill about it.
